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How Pat McGrath dominated the beauty industry in 2017

December 4, 2017

Celebrity makeup artist Pat McGrath is set to receive the prestigious Isabella Blow Award at The Fashion Awards on December 4. The award rounds out an incredible year for the British beauty mogul, who dominated the cosmetics industry in 2017.

Beauty entrepreneurMcGrath got off to a strong start this year, unveiling a new limited-edition makeup launch under her pioneering ‘Pat McGrath Labs' label, which commercialized a brand new ‘straight from the labs' concept. Named ‘Dark Star 006', the release was inspired by outer space, and proved to be every bit as popular as the previous highlighter, eye makeup and lip kits produced by the brand since its conception in 2015. In August, the star capitalized on the cult status of her cosmetics venture by announcing the launch of a permanent, ‘unlimited' collection, comprising lipsticks, lip liners, eyeliners, eyeshadows and mascara, stocked online and in store at Sephora, as well as on the brand's own website. In November, she surprised the industry with another innovative move, becoming the first makeup brand to sell beauty products on the music streaming service Spotify, in partnership with the singer Maggie Lindemann.

Catwalk queenMcGrath's stellar reputation is built upon the two decades she has spent creating mesmerizing catwalk beauty looks, and this year was no exception. From the striking jeweled lips she developed for the Gucci Fall/Winter 2017 show, to the ‘negative space' makeup trend she kickstarted at Maison Margiela for Spring/Summer 2018, McGrath tirelessly worked her magic backstage for some of the biggest fashion houses in the business, including Versace, Prada, Marni and Anna Sui.

Trophy collectorIt has been a year filled with achievement for McGrath, who was presented with the prestigious 'Founder's Award in Honor of Eleanor Lambert' at the 2017 CFDA Fashion Awards in New York back in June. Further recognition came in July, with her appointment as the newest beauty-editor-at-large at British Vogue, as part of new editor Edward Enninful's prestigious team. In winning the ‘Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator', a title that recognizes the very best innovators and creatives in fashion, McGrath joins the ranks of creative royalty including photographer Nick Knight, British Vogue editor Enninful, and writer and creative consultant Lady Amanda Harlech.